From 1999 to 2002 Jimmy Smith had 116 catches, 91,112…then an 80 catch season after that in a Tom Coughlin offense. If Decker can acheive those results in a more pass happy system then great for him, I hope he does. But at this time, no.

No, I gotta disagree with the comparison. I’ve watched Jimmy play and in his prime was the best receiver in the AFC for 2 or 3 years, during that time I would say he was better then Marvin Harrison, Jimmy compares to Marvin. Decker compares to Ed McCaffery or Brian Hartline. He’s gotta work on his hands, but his williness to learn could propel him if he keeps progressing.

I was just trying to point out signing them later or worrying about it really doesn’t matter because Elway’s in win now mode. Decker and Thomas are good, but they got a long ways to go to be bonefide great receivers, hence big contracts and all that noise with it. Its premature.

]]>By: opaughttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2447100
Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:20:19 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2447100Would you look at that, everyone is comparing Decker to another white receiver… I would classify Decker as a guy like Jimmy Smith from Jax. Tall and lanky with good hands. He made some serious acrobatic catches for the Gophers.
]]>By: johninthewesthttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2447071
Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:07:35 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2447071Let the future worry about the future. Both will stay..Who would expect such an irrelevant article from PFT?
]]>By: nikroll101http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446780
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:59:43 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446780Many Broncos fans neglect one key issue to this situation. Von miller is an unrestricted free agent the same year as is Thomas. As Thomas will be asking for a contact paralleled to Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitz, probably closer to Fitz given his lack of production in the past couple years, I would highly doubt the Broncos will be willing to pay such a fee for a wide receiver. Given the fact I believe Von Miller will be the highest paid defensive player in NFL history when he signs his contract, they will probably choose to resign Decker who will come at a better value. Decker also fits the Manning scheme very well proven by his higher touchdown ratio in comparison to Thomas. The ideal situation is resign Decker following 2013 and then give Von his max contract following 2014 while Thomas is franchised for the 2015 season.
]]>By: remyjehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446702
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:21:21 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446702or a lot COULD happen between now and then..
]]>By: nodindenverhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446492
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:36:35 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446492Manning’s stats will fall this year; THAT IS FUNNY! Get us a good back and Manning will smile like I do when in Home Depot.
]]>By: broncosnativehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446421
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:02:51 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446421@jasonculhane, you have a decent point expect the retirement of manning won’t implode the team. All hopes are on osweiler to learn and take control post manning, both black and decker would make thing much easy on his transition. I assure you that denver won’t bring in another tebow like QB, if osweiler is not the answer they’ll find the right one. If you know how to draft, it won’t take years to rebuild a championship caliber team. I bet you denver is still ahead of the west after manning
]]>By: jasonculhanehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446370
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:43:24 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446370All things revolve around Manning. These two receivers would be irrelevant and Welker would have probably gone to the Rams. Broncos are in it to win it now, so there is NO looking beyond Peyton. When he retires you simply blow things up, back to where the Broncos were before him.

If you look at the last time Manning had 3 good receivers and a tight end, you go back to 2004. Stokely had around 75 catches, Harrison around 85, Wayne around 77 catches. Clark had around 25 catches.

If you take those numbers with today’s pass happy systems its probably safe to assume Welker will atleast exceed 75 catches into the 80 catch range, Thomas around 90 and Decker probably around 70 catches. Tamme and Dreisen’s productivity will more then likely drop.

But if you don’t have Manning secured, I wouldn’t sign neither to long term. If he retires then signing either receiver to anykind of money beyond what they are worth before he came is out of the question.

]]>By: skarkattack1234http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446281
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:08:34 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446281I just realized that the broncos may have the best group of wideouts in the league….

I wouldn’t anticipate another 2x 1k wr year though. I think mannings stats will fall this year, and Welker will take catches from both guys.

Thomas is obviously the best of the bunch. Ideally, they could keep both, but I see them keeping deckert. He will cost way less, when, As someone already pointed out, Welker vultures his targets.

Plus, by the time Thomas’s contract is up, owners will be in full collusion to keep prices down on big-time skill position guys.

Mike Wallace may have pulled down the last of the big money contracts for WRs.

Teams are starting to see that the qb has more to do with a complete pass than a wr could ever hope to. The proliferation of the spread attack and rotating receivers means this position could eventually become as devalued as hb is right now.

]]>By: jjb0811http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446022
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:37:19 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446022Everyone talks about Manning like has has more than 1 ring! Dude is this generation’s biggest choke artist. But he’s nice so we’ll never call him a choker.
]]>By: filthymcnasty1http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2446019
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:33:47 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2446019High class problems.
]]>By: deathonwings410http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445961
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:07:21 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445961And neither one will win a SB ring while they’ve got the choker Manning at QB! LOL!
]]>By: sandersmarcus10http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445891
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:37:25 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445891They need to find a way to keep both of this ‘new age” Rod Smith and Ed Mccaffrey clones.
]]>By: nodindenverhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445872
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:32:12 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445872The way I see it is that it is a good problem to have. I bet Sam Bradford would be happy with either. DT will be top five this year and Manning has got to be stoked. Good luck to the DBs that have to cover Decker, Welker, and Thomas this year. Just to let you know Raider’s fans, Tracy Porter is not going to get it done.
]]>By: awhite46http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445870
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:30:48 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445870Or they can wait till Welker cannibalizes Decker’s stats and pay him less. Everyone wins. Except for Decker. Sucks for him.
]]>By: sunderellbroncosllbuckyahttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445831
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:16:20 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445831Lets not get ahead of ourselves. We need to do the wait and see as anything can happen in a stretch of one to two years in the no fun league.
]]>By: daluckshttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445813
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:03:35 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445813Maybe Peyton will take a paycut to keep them both.
]]>By: lovefootball4lifehttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445805
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:59:43 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445805I’d say this falls into the category of a good problem to have. Broncos could use a break after the fax fiasco. From a outsider looking in even though Thomas was taken higher it seems Decker has more heart. For a long productive run I’d place my bets on Decker.
]]>By: hoops737http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445798
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:56:00 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445798Decker and Welker are the same type of receiver. They can afford to let Decker go, no harm done. Thomas is more of a playmaker
]]>By: znpickett88http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445792
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:53:22 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445792I say do what you can to keep DT. Decker just doesn’t have the potential or that wow factor.
]]>By: blacknole08http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445790
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:52:02 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445790I’d keep Thomas for his ability to stretch the field and quickness in the open field.

But Decker is nasty too. Not only can he stretch the field, but he’s more physical and a better blocker in the run game. He reminds me so much of Ed McCaffrey.

I doubt they can keep both. It will be hard with Von Miller getting a huge pay increase soon as well.

]]>By: shootscuzhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445778
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:48:53 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445778As it stands now I would want Thomas. He is a beast and got the majority of the double teams.
]]>By: grpatriothttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445776
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:47:55 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445776Oh Sweet revenge…….Pats will take Thomas…
]]>By: themagicman1223http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445772
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:46:32 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445772This should be an easy decision…Demariyus Thomas all the way.
]]>By: dbfan4everhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/04/broncos-could-soon-have-to-choose-between-decker-thomas/#comment-2445764
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:45:09 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=1916803#comment-2445764Hopefully we can keep them both but if it comes down to keeping one then Decker has got to go. You can find another possession receiver but Thomas is more explosive and has more big play potential due to his speed.
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